American Airlines Passenger On $2,000 Ticket Denied Boarding Over Skimpy Attire
An American Airlines passenger says she purchased a $2,000 ticket but was denied boarding over the clothing she was wearing. Gate agents called police. She complains that she’s being refused boarding over a ‘dress code’ but the airline ‘refuses to show’ her the dress code.
She insists the officer “understand how [she’s] feeling.. just because someone says ‘I’m offended by what this girl is wearing, I don’t care.”
One of the reportedly four police officers who responded explains to the woman that “they can deny boarding for any reason” which is not, in fact, true.
Employee refused to let her board and called the police due to her outfit, thoughts? pic.twitter.com/81ESyCczJo
— Crime Net (@TRIGGERHAPPYV1) April 1, 2024
American Airlines rules say that passengers must “dress appropriately” but there’s no guidance about what this means other than that “bare feet or offensive clothing aren’t allowed.” Front line employees are left to exercise their own judgment, which varies, and passengers rarely think that the clothing they’re wearing is “offensive” or else they wouldn’t be wearing it. Opinions vary! (American’s rules also ban passengers with offensive odor “unless it’s caused by a disability or illness.”)
Subject dress codes come up frequently across U.S. airlines. For instance,
Yet we often see far more flamboyant or skimpy attire on planes. Here’s women in swimsuits checking in for an American Airlines flight while the carrier’s agents are like ‘no big deal.’ This is an airline with a hub in Miami, after all! Rules in Dallas are very different than in Miami!
